New York Salsa All Stars — Tempo Latino Festival, Vic-Fezensac, 2003

Live concert by the New York Salsa All Stars at the Tempo Latino Festival in Vic-Fezensac, France, in 2003. A major gathering for salsa and Afro-Cuban music in Europe, the festival in the Gers brings together a prestige lineup starring singer José Alberto “El Canario”, trombonist Jimmy Bosch and singer Nora. True to the great New York tradition of salsa dura inherited from the Fania era, the band unfurls an incandescent horn section, frantic piano montunos and percussion that electrifies the floor. Between improvised soneos, descargas and sing-along choruses, the musicians bring to life all the fervour of son latino before a won-over crowd of dancers. This filmed live recording captures the energy of an all-star lineup and the virtuosity of top-tier performers gathered on one stage. An ideal document for fans of salsa, Latin jazz and filmed live concerts, plunging the listener into an evening where New York’s salsa tradition meets the warmth of a European festival.